Bearing construction



Oct. 28,1941. D. M. SMITH ETAL 2,260,345

BEAVRING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 2o, 1940 WIV INVENTOPS.

v ATTORNEY Istruction of crown and travelling block having equipment are subjected to severe usage owing parts which may be adjusted to compensate for y wear, andwhich parts may be economically re- .35 I3' 0f the blocks I0 and H.

.of a massive assembly of cooperating parts.

l rality f sets of rollers, and bearing races to Patented Oct. 28, 1941 BEARING ooNsrnUo'rroN David M. Smith, Hermosa Beach, and William H. Fisher, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Emsco Derrick & Equipment Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation o! California l Application Aril zo, i940, seriaieNe. 330,708

c claim. (ci. 25p-1oz) Our invention relates in general to hoisting Referring to the drawing which is for illusapparatus such as employed in oil well derrioks trative purposes only: and relates in particular to a simplied con- Fig. 1 is a simple cross-sectional view showing a travelling block and a crown block incorporatimproved renewable and adjustableI ibearing 5 ing'our invention. i means therein. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section show- 'I'his application is a continuation-impart of ing the inner and outerv races 0f the bearings our copending application for Travelling block, eInlJlOyed in F18. 1. Serial No. 302,188, filed October 31, 1939. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view corree The travelling and crown blocks of well drilling l spondlng to Fig. 2 t0 ShOW the elementary DOntS of thrust contact of the roller bearingswith the to the heavy loads which are handled thereby, side walls of the 'nner and outer bearing races. the result being that design of this type o! equipy Fig. 4 is a tra y, entary sectional view showing ment has tended toward massiveness. The inan alternative inner and outer bearing race crease in size of this equipment, especially in '15 assembly. the travelling block, has resulted in dennite dis- Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar toFig. 4 y advantages. Many travelling blocks now in use showing another manner of securing the side are of such great width that a relatively large nietes 0f the Outer bearing race. space is required in the derrick for accommoda- Fig-6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section tion thereof. Accordingly, an object or our presshowing a form of our new bearing employing ent inventionis to provide an eillcient and durable the stepped `ring `in the fOrmation of the inner bearing means which will contribute to reduction bearing race. I in size of the travelling block, and which is of F18. 7 is a fragmentary CI'OSS-SIOnaI yView such character that it may be used also 1n the similartoFig. showing another ma ,er in which crown block, thereby makingyit possible tog'space 25 We employ stepped rings in the inner bearing the sheaves of the crown block the same as those raeeof the travelling block, thereby reducing the fleet For the purpose of showing the principal utility angle of the unes, of our invention, we have in Fig. l shown hoisting Not .only is it an object of the present invenequipment,` such as employed in oil well derricks. tion to provide bearing means which may be Comprising a travelling block l0 Whicll 1S raised manufactured, assembled, and serviced at miniand lowered Withn/ the derrick and a crown mum cost, but it is likewise an object of the f block II which is supported at the 130D 0f the invention to provide a bearing having cooperating I derriek. these -blOCkS l0 and Il being interconnected by a cable I2 which runs over the sheaves v The sheaves I3 of the travelling and crown blocks constitute rotatable means which are maintained in operative conditioned for re-use when maximum permissible wear has taken place.

It is a further object of theinvention to proposition by bearing devices I 4, coaxial with supvide simple multiple bearing means employing ports I5 individually identified as I5a and lib. essentially cylindrical rollers, and wherein both The bearing deViCeS I4 @emprise Outer races I6, radial and thrust loads are carried without use disposed in side-by-side relation. and each having an inwardly presented bottom wall or face II A further object of the invention-is to provide and, inwardly projecting side walls forming inmultiple bearing means of the character set r wardly faced channels 2I to receive sets of bearforth in the preceding paragraph having a plu- 4" ing rollers I9 which are maintained `in spaced arrangement by spacers 20. In the 'preferred practice of the invention the rollers I9 have a length greater than the diametral dimension thereof. The number of outer races I6 correreceive these rollers, such races being formed of coaxial ring members which are separable along planes positioned so as to permit separation of at least one side Wall of a bearing race 50 Spend t0 the number 0f sheaves |3'in each block I Il or II, it being noted that there is one more sheave in the crown block II than in the travelling block I0, in accordance with an accepted practice. Inner bearing race means 22 provides a plurality of side-by-side channels 23, correfrom the adjacent or cooperating bottom wall of the race. l

Further objects and advantages o1 the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification. 5

sponding in numberto the channels 2 I, in which the rollers I9 may roll.

The supports I5a and |5b comprise cylindrical walls on which the constituent parts of the.

inner bearing means may be moved into operative position. As shown' in Figs. 1, 2,.and 3, the inner bearing means 22 comprises a plurality of rings 24, 25, and 26 arranged in end-to-end relation on the supports Ia or I5b so as to form the channels 23. The rings 24 are re- "ferred" to as bottom wall rings for the reason that they each have a width-equal to the length of VYadroller l'I9 and formthebottom or radial wearing wams of the channels 23. The lrings 2s and 26 are of greater thickness than therings 24vso that they will project outwardly from the the channels 2|. Preferably the depth of these rings so as to form side walls for thechannels 23. Accordingly, these rings 25 and 26 may be referred to as thrust bearing walls. 'Ihe rings 25 are approximately twice the axial vdimension of; the rings r26 and areplaced between adjacent bottom wall rings 24, the'rings 26 being placed ati the ends of the assembly of rings constituting the inner race means 22. The width of each ring 26` is slightly greater than the width of the sidel wall I8 of the outer bearing race I6, and the rings 25 have a width slightly more than twice the width of the outer side walls I8, so ,that spaces 215 will be maintained between adjacent sheaves I3. "I'he inner ring members 24, 25, and 26 are held in a simple 'manner onl the supports I5a and I5b. All that is necessary in the assembly is that 'means be provided for holding the ring members 24, 25,1'and 26 together in face-to-face relation on the cylindrical wall I5a orl |5b comprising the supports. To accomplish this pur- -pose rings and shoulders are provided on the opposite ends ofthe members I 5anand I5b. For

example, the cylindrical wall I5a of the travelling block I0 has a shoulder 28 at one end thereof acting as a stop for a ring 29. On the opposite end of the cylindrical wall I5a there is a similar ring 29a heldin place by a ange tting 30 which is secured to the ends of the member I5a by screw means 3|. The assembly of rings constituting the inner race means 22 is `held between the rings `29 and 29a. The cylindrical wall I5b constituting the support for the bearing and sheaves of the crown block II have a radial flange 32 at one end thereof, and at the opposite end there is a removable flange 33 secured in,

operative position by screws 34. The support I 5a forms a part of the structure of a travelling block I0, and although it constitutes a support fori the bearing means, it is in effect a member whereby the lifting effect transmitted from the cable I2 to the lower set of sheaves I3 is carried to the travelling block which is in turn attached to the object which vis to be raised or lowered in the derrick. The upper support |512 is shown with projecting walls 35 for engagement with the structure at thetop of the der-4 rick for example, means 36.

Thebearingmeans of the travelling block I0 and the crownblock II, being of relatively large diameter as compared to the diameter of the sheaves I3, and likewise employing cylindrical rollers having ample radial bearing capacity, are so formed that the thrustr loads applied to the sheaves will be carried'without need for additio'al or auxiliary thrust bearing means. Owing to the fact that the inner` race means do not vrotate, wear-from the action of the rollers I9 "willlbe localized; whereas. the wear on the outer channels 23 is slightly greater than one-quarter the 'diameter of the rollers I9, and the channels 2|` are each of a depth not greater than one- `quarter the diameter of the rollers I9. The end jfaces of the rollers I9 are substantially fiat and fmerge through rounded corners with the cylin- 'drical bases. The length of each roller I9 is o'nly slightly less thanthe axial dimension of the channel 2| or 23 in which it rolls, and accordingly the end play in the bearing structure is very small, thereby making it possible to place the sheaves I3 relatively close together as clearly shown in Fig. 1, thereby contributing to the desirable effect of reducing the sheave devices to minimum size for a given load carrying capacity. An important feature of the invention is that one or more of the rings 24, 25, or 26 1 may be rotated 'on its support I5a or I5b to a different position of operation. Although our present invention reduces to a minimum the angular pull on the sheave, or, in other words, ac-

complishes a reduction of the fleet angle of theA line, there remains sufficient angularity of pull on the sheave to cause greater wear on the side walls of the inner race channels in definite zones. For example, one end 40 of the cable I2 may be brought off from the crown block I I at an angle. as shown in Fig. 1. The angular pull of this cable portion 40 resultsin a definite direct thrust load against the upper portion 4I of the rightward ring 26 and a reacting thrust load in left- Ward direction against the thrust receiving wall formed by the lower portion 42 of the adjacent ring 25. lThe rightward ring 26 may be'rotated through a part of a revolution after the upper portion 4I thereof has become sufficiently worn, and the adjacent ring 25 may be rotated through a part of a revolution, when required, 'thereby bringing into operative position new, substantially unworn portions of the thrust bearing faces of the rings 26 and 25 referred to. Naturally, at least one of the end rings 25 will receive greater thrust wear than other of the rings 25 and 26. In my invention the ring 26, or any other of the rings may be readily replaced or serviced by regrinding without complete replacement of the bearing devices I4. Owing to the fact that the cable lines are hung from the upper sheave I3 so that the load. thereof is exerted downwardly through the sheaves I3 and the bearing rollers to the rings 24 of the crown block |I,'the upper portions of these rings 24 will become worn, whereas, there will be substantially no wear on the lower portions of these rings 24. Likewise, the hanging of the travelling block III in the cable lines will result in concentration of radial wear against the lower portions of the rings 24 Which form part of the bearing device of the travelling block.

In Figs. 1 to 3 the vouter races I6 have been shown of one piece construction, ,and with the inner races formed from an assembly of replaceable or interchangeable rings. In Figs. 4 and 5 we show a manner in which the principles involved in the inner bearing race means of Figs.

1 to 3 may be employed in the outer races of the bearing. As shown in Fig. 4, an outer race I6a may be formed by use of a radial bearing ring 45 with thrust bearing rings 46 secured to the end faces thereof `by means of screws 41 which are threaded into the ring 45, forming thereof an outer' race unit which may be pressed into the opening of a sheave I3. Any of the rings 46 and 41 may be replaced as required. Likewise, the inner race rings 24 and 26 shown in conjunction therewith may be replaced.

In Fig. we show an outer bearing race comprising a radial bearing ring 45a disposed between thrust bearing rings 46a which are 0L greater radial dimension than the rings 46, so that screws 41a may be employed to secure the rings 46a to the sides of the hub 46 of a sheave. 'Ihese annular members may be readily reground and the bearing'devices in which they are employed may be renewed by substitution of oversize rollers.

In Fig. 6 we show an effective manner of forming the inner bearing races from like stepped rings assembled in end-to-end relation on a cylindrical support 5I, these stepped rings 50 being so formed as to provide annular channels 52 in which the bearing rollers I9 may roll. Each stepped ring 50 `has along one edge thereof a thrust receiving wall 53 to provide a thrust bearing face 54 along one-edge of a cylindrical, radial bearing face 55 which meets the opposite edge face 56 of the stepped ring 50. When the stepped rings 50 are assembled in end-to-end relation, a second thrust bearing face 58 is provided for each preceding channel by the thrust bearing wall or lip 53a of the succeeding stepped ring 50. To provide a second bearing face for the nal or rightward channel 52a, a spacer ring 6.0 is placed at the end of the assembly of stepped rings, the outer edge of the spacing ring 66 providing a thrust bearing face 6|. The inner bearing races provided by this assembly of rings may be employed with any of the outer bearing races disclosed in the preceding figures. We have shown, however, outer races I6 which are pressed into the bores of sheaves I 3. The arrangement shown in Fig. 6 reduces to ay minimum the number of parts employed in thev roller bearing devices, without sacricing features of adiustability and replaceability. Each inner bearing race, with the exception of the last one, is formed by a single ring 50 having a radially projecting thrust bearing wall 53 of axial dimension slightly greater than the width of the lips I6 of the outer races I6, thereby spacing the einher race channels 52 so that the spacing of the sets of rollers I9 will be such as to support the sheaves I3 in properly spaced arrangement.

In the alternative inner bearing race construction shown in Fig. 7 we employ stepped rings 'I0 which are similar to the rings 50 with the exception that the radially extending lips 1I are substantially one-half the width of the thrust bearing walls 53 of the stepped rings 50. In the assembly of these rings 10 a spacer ring 12 is placed adjacent the far, or rightward end of each ring I0 to provide a replaceable thrust bearing face 'I3 in proper spaced relation to the thrust bearing face 'I4 provided by a lip 1I.

Although we have shown simple and practical forms embodying our invention, it is understood that Avarious changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, and accordingly the invention should be limited in scope only by the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In multiple sheave means having replaceable bearing means of the character described, the combination of: a plurality of outer rotatable sheave means disposed in side-by-side relation; a support extending through said rotatable means; an outer bearing race in each of said outer rotatable means, and surrounding said support, each outer bearing race comprising an annular bottom wall and a pair of lips projecting inward from the edges thereof; a set of cylindrical bearing rollers in each of said outer` races; inner bearing racemeans on said support to receive said rollers, comprising a plurality of radial bearing rings on said support in position to be engaged by said rollers, and spacer rings on said support between said radial bearing rings, the outer portions of said spacer rings projecting -so as to form thrust receiving lips for engagement with end faces of said rollers, the axial dimension of said spacer rings being such that said rotatable means will be held in spaced, nonengaging relation by said rollers and the lips cooperating therewith;` and means lto hold said rings and spacers in end to end engagement on said support.

2. In replaceable bearing means of the charn acter described, the comblnationof: a plurality of outer rotatable means disposed in side-.by-

side relation; a support extending through said rotatable means; an outer bearing race in each of said outer vrotatable means, and surrounding said support, each outer bearing race comprising an annular bottom wall and a pair of lips pro- Jecting inward from the edgesthereof; a set of cylindrical bearing rollers in each of said outer races; and inner bearing race means on said support to receive said rollers, comprising a plurality of bearing rings each having a radial bearing wallv and a thrust receiving lip projecting from an edge of said radial bearing wall, and.

a plurality of spacer rings between said bearing rings, the outer portions 0f said spacer rings projecting so as to form thrust receiving lips.

3. In a. multiple sheave device of the character described, the combination of:v aplurality of sheave members disposed in side-by-side relation; a common support extending through said sheave members an Outerbearing race in each of said sheave members, each outer bearing race comprising an annular channel having a bottom wall and a pair of side lips; a plurality of inner bearing races comprising a plurality of ring elements in end to end engagement and slidable on said support into position within said oute bearing races, each of said .inner bearing races comprising at ,least two of said ring elements so formed as to provide a channel having a bottom wall and projecting thrust receiving lips along, the edges of said bottom wall, the surfaces ofi. separation between said ringielements being so placed that said thrust receiving lips may be separated by separation of two of said ring elements; cylindrical bearing rollers in said inner and outer bearing races; and means to hold said ring elements in face to face engagement on said support.

4. lIn a multiple sheave device of the character described, the combination of: a plurality of sheave members disposed in side-by-side relation, Ia common support extending through said sheave members; an outer bearing race in each of'said sheave members, each outer bearing race comprising an annular channel havingand a pair of side lips; a plurality of inner bearing races comprising a plurality of ring elements a bottom wall i. in end to end engagement and slidable on said support into position within said outer bearing races, each of said inner bearing races comprising at least two of said ring elements `so 4formed as' to provide a channel having a bottom wall and projecting thrust receiving lips along the edges of said bottomiwall, thesurfaces of separation between said ring elements being so placed that Eat least one thrust receivinglip of each inner 1 bearing race may be separated 4from the bottom wall and the other lip associated therewith; cylin-Y dricalbearing rollers in said inner and outer bearing races; and means to hold said ring elements in face to face engagement on said support.

5. In a multiple sheave device of the character described, the combination of: a plurality of sheave members disposed in side-by-side relation.` 1

a plurality of inner races to receive said rollers, and each comprising an annular channel with a bottom wall and side lips extending along said eachof said sheave members having an opening' defined by an outer race comprising an annular channel having a bottom wall and a pair of side lips;3 a common support extending through said openings of said sheave members; a plurality of rollers in each of said outer races; inner bearing race means comprising a plurality of bearing rings and spacer rings slidable in alternate order and in end to end engagement onto said support into `position within said outer races, said spacer rings being of greater. radial dimension than said bearing rings and cooperating therewith to form bottom wall; said spacer rings being of such axial dimension that the channels of said inner races will be spaced so as to maintain said sheave memv bers in spaced relation; and means to hold said rings in end to end engagement on said support.

6. In a replaceable bearing means oi.' the character described; the combination of: a plurality of outer rotatable means disposed in side by side relation; a support extending through said roe tatable means;` an outer bearing race in each ot said outer rotatable means, and surrounding said support, each outer. bearing race comprisingy an annular bottom wall and a pair of lips projecting inward from the edges thereof; a set ot cylindrical bearing rollers in each or said outer races and inner bearing race means on said support to 'receive said rollers, comprising a plurality of bearing rings assembled in end to end engagement on said support, each having a radial bearing wall and a thrust receiving lip so that when` said bearing rings are so assembled channels to 

